Chabad at Rice makes celebrating Passover enjoyable, convenient, delicious

Matan Leiber-Kotx and Jacob Kasner enjoy a kosher-for-Passover dinner.
Published
Celebrating Passover away from home can feel isolating for students on campus. While many were preparing the Four Questions for the Seder, Chabad at Rice was busy preparing four answers for students and alumni wanting to celebrate the holiday.

Chabad at Rice’s Seder was brimming with people, food, insight and energy. The holiday started with more than 60 students coming together from Rice, the University of Houston and the Houston medical schools to celebrate and relive the story of our Exodus.

For Caio Skornicki, a Rice freshman from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Seder was historic. “It was the first Seder that I have celebrated in my life!” Skornicki said. “I felt so proud being part of this community and embracing a tradition that is deeply connected with my people and who I am.”

Although the crowd was large, the experience was intimate and warm. Throughout the Seder, each student’s voice was heard as they asked a question or shared an insight about Passover. In Chabad at Rice tradition, for the Ma Nishtana, students had the opportunity to ask the Four Questions in whatever language they knew. This year, the questions were asked in nine languages, including German and Portuguese.

“Chabad made me feel extremely comfortable as it made the Seder an easy and enjoyable experience for everyone, even people who had no knowledge or experience in it, such as me,” said Skornicki. “I learned a lot, and I hope to continue embracing this festivity for the rest of my life, and I am happy that I began this at Rice.”

Chabad at Rice also acted quickly to ensure that a group of students who had tested positive for COVID-19 received a care package of matzah, wine and Seder materials to observe the holiday.

Passover meal plan
Finding kosher-for-Passover dinners in a campus dining hall is a hard feat, but Jewish students in Houston had nothing to worry about.

Each night of Passover, homemade, warm and delectable meals were available at the Chabad House. Dinners were well-attended, and students were grateful.

“Having kosher-for-Pesach dinners available to me every night really made me feel like I was part of a community here at Rice,” said Maya Levitan, a Rice senior. “There are not a lot of Jewish students in my classes which can make the holidays feel a bit lonely. Having the resources and support of Chabad gave me a place to celebrate with others.”

“Students used to tell us how they go to sleep hungry most days of Passover and can really use some snacks,” said Nechama Slonim, co-director of Chabad at Rice. “We knew we must address this. Don’t we all need our macaroon and chocolate-covered matzah fix?”

On April 11, the Monday before Passover, a Passover pantry was set up at the Rice campus, well-stocked with a wide variety of kosher-for-Passover snacks, all free of charge.

Alumni connect
“Chabad at Rice is a family from which you never graduate,” said Rabbi Shmuli Slonim, co-director of Chabad at Rice. “We always make an effort to check in with our alumni, especially around Passover. Just because they aren’t in Houston anymore doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a Seder. Since Chabad exists all around the globe, it’s usually not hard to find a colleague who is more than happy to host an alum pretty much anywhere.”

After graduating from Rice in 2021, Josh Kowal was hired by Amerginet Technologies in Colorado Springs. In a city with only a small Jewish community, Kowal found it especially hard to connect.

“I owe Rabbi Shmuli a big thank you for helping me connect with Chabad of Colorado Springs,” said Kowal. “I enjoyed the Seder a lot, and I now look forward to participating in more events with my local Chabad.”

In total this year, Chabad at Rice assisted more than 300 students and alumni in celebrating Passover in meaningful and convenient ways.